World Cup organizers give up windfall of U.S. TV money

Whichever U.S. TV network ends up with the 2022 Qatar World Cup, whose rights will be packaged with the 2018 Russia Cup, saved itself some money Thursday — and lost some future ratings. Unlike traditional U.S. Olympic coverage, which airs top events live or on tape in primetime no matter when they were held in real life, World Cup games are treated like, well, games — and air live. Meaning the time zone differences with Qatar and Russia will presumably offer U.S. viewers a crazy quilt of game times. So while World Cup organizers might increase their TV money from networks in those sites’ regions, they’ve presumably sacrificed a windfall in U.S. TV money — a windfall, that is, compared to the paltry money they get now. — USA Today